Dart Works To Reduce Jail Population
CHICAGO (WBBM) -- Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle has committed the county to meeting federal deadlines to reduce the County Jail population by 2013.
As WBBM Newsradio 780's John Cody reports, the commitment essentially supports the agreement between the federal agreement and county Sheriff Tom Dart, who says he is using home monitoring and daytime jail stays to divert from the jail population those who don't pose a risk to public safety.
LISTEN: Newsradio 780's John Cody reports
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"It just changes the dynamics around here; I mean, the overtime issues plummet," Dart said. "The number of people I'm required to hire then – that plummets as well."
Sheriff Dart says he would like to reduce the current daily jail census from 9,000 down to 8,000 or less if possible.
A 1982 federal consent decree forced the county to prevent overcrowding at the jail.
